Color vs BW, two questions

[Woodstock]

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Forgive the rather tongue in cheek comment, but:

Did I become a Radiologist because I enjoy looking at black and white images, or do I enjoy looking at black and white images because I became a Radiologist?

Neither statement is true, but many friends have suggested one or the other must be!

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[reynoldsyoung]

I was on a site the other day where this was said by the presenter:  “I feel like a black and white image is mine.  I often feel like a color image may have been taken many times by many people.”

That resonated with me quite a bit.  I immediately began to feel just that way.  That photograph is mine.  No one else has it!

 

Edited May 28 by reynoldsyoung

[M11 for me]

Am 27.3.2025 um 15:03 schrieb Fuad7:

2- Do you think dedicated BW cameras like the Q2M provide better quality images than a Q2 shooting in BW?

I have tested that a while ago. My feeling is that you can create b/w images with a color camera that look the same as with a b/w camera. With the colour camera you have the 3 color channels that you can adjust. You can put two images side a side. One taken with b/w camera and the other one with color camera. Go to tweak the colours (go to "Calibration" in LrC). At the end you cannot say which is which.

On the other hand the b/w camera has advantages and disadvantages:

- A main advantage might be its very high ISO capabilities. But think if you really need this. To take images you need light. That should be the first rule. And a modern camera renders very good images up to ISO 3200 or even 6400. I have lots of images taken at social event that have ISO 12500 and they are fin for what I want to do with these images.

- The disadvantage is the fact that b/w Camera has only one channel. I a part of your image is just a little bit blown out then it's blown out, gone, nothing left. Now think of the color camera with its 3 channels. When parts of your image are blown out then you have a big chance that at least one or even 2 channels are still showing some details. An example: You shoot at a concert with b/w camera (ISO 6400 or 12500). Now if you are not extremely careful then all the foreheads of your musicians are blown out so that your images look terrible. That would probably not have happened if you had a colour camera and in post you would have converted the images to black and white.

A last important point: When you have a b/w camera then it's impossible to shoot in colour. You have to start to think in b/w which is a fully different story. You will look for different things. These might be contrasts, shapes etc. 

[reynoldsyoung]

Completely follow your reasoning.  I sold my Q2M and am moving forward with my Q3 43.  I too enjoy using the color sliders to edit the monochrome image…a real asset…albeit, I am using Capture One.  Thank you for your input…wonderful!!!